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BGIS 2026 Grand Finals: All 16 teams, schedule, prize pool, and where to watch

Divyesh Moghe
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BGIS 2026 Grand Finals: All 16 teams, schedule, prize pool, and where to watch

The BGIS 2026 Grand Finals start on March 27 at the Chennai Trade Centre. Sixteen teams. Three days. Eighteen matches. A โ‚น4 Crore prize pool. This is the biggest BGMI LAN event of the year, and after weeks of qualifiers, Semifinals, and a Survival Stage in Hyderabad, the field is locked in.

iQOO Soul topped the Semifinals standings with 172 points and three Chicken Dinners. GodLike nearly missed the cut entirely, scraping through the Survival Stage after a rough final day in Semis. Team Tamilas will play in front of a home crowd in Chennai. The storylines are there. Now the matches need to deliver.

All 16 qualified teams

Eight teams qualified directly from the Semifinals in Hyderabad (March 12 to 15). The remaining eight earned their spots through the Survival Stage on March 16 and 17.

From Semifinals (direct qualifiers):

  1. iQOO Soul: 172 points, 116 eliminations, 3 Chicken Dinners. Topped the Semifinals. Nakul’s squad has been the most consistent team in the tournament.
  2. iQOO Orangutan: Aaru-led roster finished second in Semis. Strong across all four days.
  3. Genesis Esports: Third in Semifinals. One of the lesser-known squads that has quietly outperformed bigger names.
  4. Learn From Past (LEFP): Fourth. Surged on Day 2 of Semis before Soul pulled back ahead.
  5. iQOO Reckoning Esports: Fifth. Steady performances without big highs or lows.
  6. iQOO Revenant XSpark: Sixth. The Troy Tamilan-led roster remains a fan favorite.
  7. Victores Sumus: Seventh. Consistent enough to hold a direct spot through all four days.
  8. Meta Ninza: Eighth. Just scraped into the direct cutoff.

From Survival Stage:

  1. Hero Xtreme GodLike: Topped the Survival Stage standings. Manya’s squad failed to qualify directly after scoring just five points on Semis Day 4. Jonathan was benched for the Survival Stage, with GodZ stepping in. Jonathan is expected to return for the Grand Finals.
  2. WELT Esports: Second in Survival Stage.
  3. NEBULA Esports: Aadi-led squad finished third. Strong run across both days.
  4. MYTH Official: Fourth in Survival Stage.
  5. Wyld Fangs: Fifth.
  6. K9 Esports: Sixth. A recognizable name that needed the second chance to make it through.
  7. iQOO Team Tamilas: Playing on home turf in Chennai. Qualified through Survival Stage.
  8. Vasista Esports: The last team to secure a Grand Finals spot.

Notable eliminations: Phoenix Esports and MadKINGS were knocked out during the Survival Stage. Two of the more recognizable BGMI names will be watching from the sidelines.

Schedule and format

The Grand Finals run from March 27 to 29 at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam. Six matches per day, 18 total across three days. Matches begin at approximately 2:30 PM IST each day.

Maps in rotation are Erangel, Miramar, and Rondo. Points are accumulated from kills and placements across all 18 matches. The team with the highest total at the end wins the title. No bracket, no elimination rounds within the finals. Pure points-based competition.

Consistency matters more than individual pop-off games here. A single Chicken Dinner does not win BGIS. Teams need to place well across 18 games, and that favours rosters with discipline and rotation strategy over pure fragging power.

Prize pool breakdown

Krafton allocated a โ‚น4 Crore total prize pool for the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals. That includes a โ‚น2 Crore base pool and an additional โ‚น2 Crore unlocked by fans through the in-game Discovery Island initiative.

Here is how the money splits:

1st place: โ‚น1 Crore. 2nd place: โ‚น50 Lakh. 3rd place: โ‚น35 Lakh. Every team in the Grand Finals earns at least โ‚น8 Lakh, so even a last-place finish pays out. Individual awards include โ‚น3 Lakh for the tournament MVP and โ‚น2 Lakh for the best in-game leader.

This is the largest prize pool in BGIS history.

Where to watch

All matches will be broadcast live on the Krafton India Esports YouTube channel in both Hindi and English. The channel recently crossed 2 million subscribers.

If you want to attend in person, tickets are available through Swiggy Scenes, the official ticketing partner. Early bird single-day passes started at โ‚น100, with three-day passes at โ‚น250. Premium Elite Passes with added benefits are priced at โ‚น4,720 per day.

Teams to watch

iQOO Soul is the clear favorite. They topped the Semifinals with a 50-point gap over second place and were the only team to secure three Chicken Dinners in that stage. If they play the same way in Chennai, they will be hard to beat.

GodLike is the wildcard. Their Semifinals were rough, and benching Jonathan for the Survival Stage raised questions. If Jonathan returns and the team clicks, GodLike has the individual talent to compete with anyone. If the chemistry issues from Semis carry over, they could finish mid-table.

Orangutan under Aaru has been quietly excellent. Second in Semis, no drama, just results. They could slip under the radar while Soul and GodLike absorb most of the attention.

Team Tamilas playing at home in Chennai adds crowd pressure that can go either way. A loud arena backing your rotations is an advantage. Getting rattled by the noise when a play goes wrong is a real risk too.

Frequently asked questions

When are the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals?

March 27 to 29, 2026, at the Chennai Trade Centre, Nandambakkam.

How many teams are in the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals?

16 teams. Eight qualified directly from the Semifinals and eight through the Survival Stage.

What is the BGIS 2026 prize pool?

โ‚น4 Crore total. The winner takes home โ‚น1 Crore. Runner-up gets โ‚น50 Lakh. Third place receives โ‚น35 Lakh.

Where can I watch BGIS 2026 Grand Finals?

Live on the Krafton India Esports YouTube channel in Hindi and English. Matches start at around 2:30 PM IST each day.

How do I buy tickets for the BGIS 2026 Grand Finals?

Through Swiggy Scenes. Search for “BGIS 2026 Grand Finals” in the Swiggy app and select your preferred day or multi-day pass.

Is Jonathan playing in the Grand Finals?

Jonathan was benched for the Survival Stage but is expected to return for the Grand Finals with GodLike.

BGMI Weapon Damage Calculator: Shots to Kill, TTK & Gun Stats (2026)

Hoax
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BGMI Weapon Damage Calculator: Shots to Kill, TTK & Gun Stats (2026)

This BGMI weapon damage calculator tells you exactly how many shots it takes to kill an enemy, how long it takes, and how much damage each hit deals. Select your weapon, the enemy’s armor level, and the hit zone, and the answer comes instantly. The tool also includes a weapon comparison chart, a full Time-To-Kill (TTK) visualizer, and a shots-to-kill reference table covering 28 guns.

โ€”โ€”
โ€”Shots to Kill
โ€”Time to Kill
โ€”Dmg / Shot
โ€”DPS
Shot sequence โ€” ๐Ÿ”ด hit ยท ๐ŸŸข kill shot
TTK = (Shots to Kill โˆ’ 1) ร— fire interval. 0ms = one-shot kill. Shotguns assume full pellet contact.
WeaponTypeDMGNo ArmorLv1Lv2Lv3Ammo

Data: in-game testing & Liquipedia. Head shots assume no helmet.

How to Use the BGMI Damage Calculator

The BGMI Weapon Damage Calculator tool has four tabs. Here is what each one does.

  • Damage Calculator: Pick a weapon, an armor level (No Armor to Level 3), and a hit zone. Hit Calculate. You get shots to kill, time to kill, damage per shot, and DPS.
  • Compare: Select two weapons side by side. The tool shows a bar chart, a full stat table, and a verdict for five scenarios: close range, vs Level 3 armor, range advantage, recoil control, and magazine size.
  • TTK Chart: Every weapon ranked by time-to-kill on a horizontal bar chart. Filter by armor level or weapon category. Hover any bar for the full breakdown.
  • STK Table: A searchable, filterable reference table showing shots to kill at every armor level. Toggle between body and head shot modes.

Key Numbers Every BGMI Player Should Know

In BGMI, every player starts with 100 HP. That is the only number that matters when you are deciding how many bullets to fire.

Armor reduces incoming damage significantly. A Level 2 vest, the most common vest in endgame circles, cuts damage to 60% of its base value. That turns the AKM’s 49 damage into 29.4 effective damage, which means 4 shots to the body instead of 3. The difference between winning and losing a gunfight is often just that one extra bullet.

Here is a quick reference:

Armor LevelDamage Modifier
No Armor100%
Level 1 Vest70%
Level 2 Vest60%
Level 3 Vest45%

Headshots deal 2.5ร— damage before armor is applied. At Level 2, a headshot from the AKM deals 73.5 damage, so two headshots kill. One headshot plus one body shot also kills (73.5 + 29.4 = 102.9). That combination is why AKM players who tap the head first win most duels.

The AWM is the only weapon that one-shots through a Level 3 helmet. It does 105 base damage. Even with Level 3 armor reducing damage to 45%, a headshot calculates to 118 effective damage; still above 100 HP.

Also check: BGMI Name Style: Best Fonts, Symbols & Free Generator (2026)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many shots does the M416 take to kill in BGMI?
Against a Level 2 vest with body shots, the M416 takes 5 shots. It does 41 base damage ร— 0.60 armor mod = 24.6 damage per hit. At 85ms between shots, that is a 340ms TTK. Against no armor, it drops to 3 shots.

2. What is the fastest TTK weapon in BGMI?
The Vector has the highest fire rate in the game at 54ms between shots. Against a bare enemy, it kills in 2 shots; a 54ms TTK. The catch is its tiny 19-round default magazine and very short effective range. It only works inside buildings or at point-blank distance.

3. Does the AWM one-shot through Level 3 armor?
Yes, to the head. The AWM does 105 base damage. A headshot multiplies that by 2.5, giving 262.5 raw damage. Even after Level 3 armor reduces it to 45%, the effective damage is 118; above 100 HP. Body shots with the AWM do not one-shot a Level 3 player.

4. AKM or M416; which is better?
It depends on the fight. The AKM kills faster at close range with no armor (3 body shots vs 4 for M416). The M416 wins every other scenari. Lower recoil, better control at range, and more consistent performance against armored enemies. Use the Compare tab above to run them against any armor level and see the TTK difference yourself.

PGA Tour 2K25 Locker Codes for March 2026

Aritra Patra
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PGA Tour 2K25 Locker Codes for March 2026

If you are looking for free rewards in PGA Tour 2K25, the latest locker codes are going to help you.

We have the latest 2K25 locker codes, which will let you claim VC, boosts, and much more for free in the game. Without wasting time, review the codes andย instructionsย for successful redemption.

PGA Tour 2K25 Locker Codes for March 2026

Here is a list of all the active locker codes for this month:

CodesRewards
SPRINGSWING500 VCโ€‹
POTOFGOLDShirt cosmeticโ€‹
ONTHEGREEN600 VCโ€‹
MORIKCOLDWAPolo + TaylorMade wedge setโ€‹
PUTTPUTTBarstool hatโ€‹
M9YPY8J77D78500 VC & Evo Toolโ€‹
PEBBLEPERFECTIONEvo Toolโ€‹

How to Redeem PGA Tour 2K25 Locker Codes?

Follow the process mentioned below on all platforms:

  • Launchย PGA Tour 2K25ย and go to the main/Home menu.
  • Open your Profile or Settings menu.
  • Select โ€œRedeem Locker Codeโ€ / โ€œLocker Codes.โ€
  • Enter the code in ALL CAPS, confirm, and your reward is added instantly if the code is valid and unused.

Codes are oneโ€‘time use per account and are strictly caseโ€‘sensitive, so a single typo or wrong letter case will make them fail.

GodL Lolzzz BGMI ID, Real Name, Stats, and More

Hoax
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GodL Lolzzz BGMI ID, Real Name, Stats, and More

GodL Lolzzz is one of the most popular BGMI content creators in India, known for his aggressive gameplay and massive YouTube following. His BGMI ID is 526040141, and his in-game name (IGN) is GodL LoLzZz.

Who Is GodL Lolzzz?

Yash Thakur (also spelled Yash Thacker) is the real name behind the GodL Lolzzz persona. Born on July 30, 1997, in Bhuj, Gujarat, he is 28 years old and is one of the most recognizable faces in the Indian BGMI streaming scene. He is a content creator underย GodLike Esports, one of India’s most prestigious esports organizations.

Lolzzz won the “Powerful Streamer of the Year” award at the India Gaming Awards in 2023 and later took home the “Streamer of the Year” honor at the Gem Awards 2025. His YouTube channel has grown to over 2 million subscribers, making him one of the top gaming creators in the country.

GodL Lolzzz BGMI ID and Profile Details

DetailInformation
BGMI ID526040141
In-Game Name (IGN)GodL LoLzZz
Real NameYash Thakur
OrganizationGodLike Esports
Current RankConqueror
FD Ratio13.56
Matches Played531
Matches Won247
Total Finishes7,186

You can find his profile in-game by going to theย Friendsย section, selectingย Add Friend, and searching for his BGMI IDย 526040141. His IGN contains special characters (GodLลLรตLzZz) to prevent fake accounts from copying it, so always use his ID number to locate the correct profile.

Sensitivity and Control Codes

If you want to replicate his exact playstyle, you can import his settings directly into your game using his official codes.

SettingCode
Control Code7076-2873-9160-7032-188
Sensitivity Code7072-8881-9971-0907-457

To use these, go toย Settings > Controls > Import Controlย in BGMI and enter the control code. For sensitivity, navigate toย Settings > Sensitivity > Importย and paste the sensitivity code.

Role at GodLike Esports

Lolzzz’s primary role atย GodLike Esportsย is content creation rather than competitive play. He regularly live streams BGMI on YouTube, engages in bootcamp sessions with the team, and collaborates on creative gaming videos. While he has expressed interest in competing in BGMI LAN events, GodLike’s competitive roster is already packed with top players like Jonathan Gaming.

BGMI Prize Path: Jujutsu Kaisen Release Date, Rewards, and More

Hoax
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BGMI Prize Path: Jujutsu Kaisen Release Date, Rewards, and More

The BGMI Prize Path is one of the most anticipated limited-time events in Battlegrounds Mobile India. The next one is bringing a massive Jujutsu Kaisen 2.0 collaboration with the 4.3 update. If you want to know the release date, all the rewards, the cost, and how to complete it efficiently, this guide covers everything.

What Is BGMI Prize Path?

The BGMI Prize Path is a paid progression event that lets players unlock exclusive themed rewards by completing in-game missions. To participate, you first spend UC to unlock the Prize Path, after which all players can join the event missions for free to earn points. You use those points to level up your Prize Path and claim rewards at each tier.

The event has been a recurring feature in BGMI across multiple major collaborations. Some of the most popular Prize Paths so far include Line Friends, Attack on Titan, Transformers, King of Fighters, and Kaiju No. 8.

BGMI Prize Path Release Date (4.3 Update)

The next BGMI Prize Path is part of the 4.3 update, which was scheduled for release on March 19, 2026. This update brings a full Jujutsu Kaisen 2.0 collaboration to the game, and the Prize Path is one of the headline events of this partnership. Krafton confirmed the Jujutsu Kaisen 2.0 collab for the Prize Path ahead of the update, with the 100% Bonus UC Up event timed to coincide with the rollout.

The community briefly speculated that the Prize Path might be cancelled for 4.3, but officials addressed those concerns. The developers confirmed that the JJK Prize Path would arrive with the update.

Jujutsu Kaisen Prize Path Rewards

The BGMI 4.3 Jujutsu Kaisen Prize Path includes some of the most exciting collab rewards seen in the game. Here is what players can expect:

  • Free Jujutsu Kaisen Buddy Skin available through mission completion
  • A 1-Level Upgradable Gun Skin (Melee/Short range weapon)
  • Mythic character skins for Yuji Itadori and Gojo Satoru with new 4.3 animations
  • Sukuna Groza skin featured in the Lucky Spin event alongside the Prize Path
  • Additional themed outfits, weapon skins, and emotes tied to the Jujutsu Kaisen anime

Players can also use Anniversary Perk Vouchers earned during BGMI’s 8th Anniversary to reduce the effective UC cost.

How the Prize Path Works

Understanding the mechanics helps you get the most out of every UC you spend.

  • Unlock cost:ย Spend 600 UC to open the Prize Path (500 UC in some regional PUBG Mobile variants)
  • Earn points:ย Complete daily and challenge missions during the event, or spend additional UC to buy points directly
  • Level up: Points are consumed to progress through levels; the Prize Path has 20 levels, each with a fixed reward
  • Overflow points: The system converts any points you earn after reaching the max level into Lucky Coins at a 10:1 ratio, which you can use in the Lucky Draw.
  • Collaboration Points:ย Each level completed also gives Collaboration Points, which unlock additional bonus rewards on the collab page
  • Access missions:ย Head to the Events section in the BGMI lobby, find the Prize Path tab, and start tracking your progress

BGMI has designed the mission types around normal gameplay such as kills, matches played, and survival time, so you do not need to play in an extreme or unusual way to advance.

Is the JJK Prize Path Worth It?

The BGMI Prize Path has consistently offered strong value for players who regularly spend UC on events. TThe community praised the Kaiju No. 8 Prize Path as one of the better ones, and the JJK 2.0 collaboration appears to raise the bar further with upgradable skins and a free buddy. If you are a fan of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime and were hoping for Gojo or Yuji Itadori skins in BGMI, this is a collab worth investing in.

Players who saved UC during the 100% Bonus UC Up event effectively halve the cost, making the 600 UC unlock much more accessible. You can stay updated on all upcoming BGMI events and Prize Path guides atย TalkEsport’s BGMI coverage.

PSN Down: PlayStation Network outage hits PS5 and PS4 on Crimson Desert launch weekend

Yash More
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PSN Down: PlayStation Network outage hits PS5 and PS4 on Crimson Desert launch weekend

PlayStation Network went down on Saturday, March 21, 2026, locking players out of online games, friends lists, trophies, and the PlayStation Store across both PS5 and PS4. The outage started at roughly 4 PM ET and the worst of it lasted about two hours, though a significant number of users reported problems stretching well into Sunday.

The timing could not have been worse. Crimson Desert launched on PlayStation that same weekend, and players trying to jump into the new RPG found themselves staring at error screens instead. Online shooters like Call of Duty and Marvel Rivals were also knocked offline. Even some single-player games that require server authentication for updates or trophy syncing were affected.

Sony acknowledged the problem on its PlayStation Service Status page, which updated from “all services are up and running” to “some services are experiencing issues.” The affected categories listed were Gaming and Social, Challenges, Game Help, Game Streaming, Tournaments, and Trophies.

What happened and how bad was it?

Downdetector logged nearly 14,000 user reports at the peak of the outage, around 4:59 PM ET. The spike was global. Players in the US, Canada, Europe, and Japan all reported the same problems at roughly the same time.

The frustrating part: Sony’s status page returned to “all services are up and running” while thousands of players were still locked out. Downdetector reports stayed elevated for hours after Sony’s official page showed green. One user on Reddit reported having two consoles in the same house, with one online and the other unable to connect. Geography did not seem to be the deciding factor. Neither did anything else obvious.

A PlayStation Support representative reportedly told one user: “We don’t have a set timeframe for when the problem will be 100% resolved; we simply ask for your patience.”

Sony has not disclosed the cause of the outage. No evidence of a cyberattack or data breach has surfaced. Past PSN outages have been caused by traffic spikes, configuration errors, and DDoS attacks, but nothing specific has been confirmed for this one.

Is PSN back up now?

As of March 22, 2026, the PlayStation Service Status page shows all services operational. Downdetector reports have returned to baseline levels. Most players appear to have regained access.

If you are still having problems, Sony recommends restarting your console, checking your internet connection, updating your system software, and reviewing router settings. Some players found that manually testing their network connection through Settings helped re-establish the PSN link.

Sony added 5 free days to PS Plus memberships

In response to the disruption, Sony automatically added five extra days to all active PlayStation Plus subscriptions. The company posted this on the PlayStation support site as a goodwill gesture for the downtime. You do not need to do anything to claim it. The extension should already be applied to your account.

PSN branding is going away anyway

The outage happened just days after reports surfaced that Sony plans to phase out the “PlayStation Network” and “PSN” branding entirely by September 2026. According to leaks shared with developers and reported by Insider Gaming, the change is cosmetic. The service itself stays the same. Sony wants to unify everything under the broader “PlayStation” name. Features like multiplayer, friends lists, trophies, and cloud saves will not change.

The irony of PSN trending on social media for an outage right before the name gets retired was not lost on anyone.

How does this compare to past PSN outages?

This was a relatively minor incident by PSN standards. The worst outage in PlayStation history was the 2011 breach, which kept the network offline for 23 days and exposed personal data of 77 million accounts. More recently, a February 2025 outage lasted roughly 24 hours and drew similar complaints about Sony’s lack of transparency.

Saturday’s outage lasted about two hours at its worst, with lingering issues for some users into Sunday. Not great, but not catastrophic.

Frequently asked questions

Is PSN down right now?

As of March 22, 2026, all PSN services are listed as operational on Sony’s status page. If you are still experiencing issues, try restarting your console and testing your network connection.

What caused the PSN outage on March 21?

Sony has not disclosed a cause. No evidence of a cyberattack has surfaced. The outage lasted approximately two hours, with some users reporting lingering issues into March 22.

What services were affected?

Gaming and Social, Challenges, Game Help, Game Streaming, Tournaments, and Trophies on both PS5 and PS4.

Did Sony compensate players?

Yes. Sony automatically added five extra days to all active PlayStation Plus memberships.

How long was PSN down?

The main outage lasted about two hours, from approximately 4 PM to 6 PM ET on March 21, 2026. Some users reported problems continuing into the next day.

Miks Valorant Guide: Abilities, tips, best combos, and how to play

Divyesh Moghe
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Miks Valorant Guide: Abilities, tips, best combos, and how to play

Miks is Valorant’s 30th agent and the newest Controller added to the game. He launched on March 18, 2026, with Season 2026 Act 2. Revealed during the VCT Masters Santiago Grand Finals, Miks is a Croatian agent whose entire kit is built around sonic energy, team support, and battlefield tempo.

What makes Miks stand out from every other Controller in Valorant is one thing: he can heal teammates. Before Miks, every other role in the game had at least one agent with healing. Controllers were the only class without it. Miks fills that gap while still carrying standard smoke utility, making him a hybrid between a traditional Controller and a support agent.

Game designer Kevin Meier described Miks as an agent “built for the socially motivated player, someone who finds satisfaction in enabling and supporting their allies.” If you prefer setting your team up to win rather than chasing solo highlight clips, Miks is built for you.

All Miks abilities explained

Harmonize (Q)

Equip Harmonize and target an ally to activate a Combat Stim on both you and that ally. The buff refreshes every time either player gets a kill. You can also alt-fire to apply the Combat Stim to yourself only.

This ability is at its best when paired with an aggressive entry player like Jett or Raze. Give them the stim before they push a site, and the increased fire rate carries through every kill they land. The refresh mechanic means the buff does not expire as long as one of you keeps getting eliminations. If the entry fragger dies without a kill, the buff is wasted, so choose your target carefully.

In solo queue, self-casting Harmonize before an aggressive peek is a solid fallback when you do not have a reliable duo partner.

M-Pulse (C)

Equip M-Pulse and alt-fire to toggle between two modes: Concuss and Healing. Fire to throw the device. When it lands, it sends out sound waves that either concuss enemies or heal allies in the area.

The concuss mode works like a Breach flash alternative. Throw it into a choke point before your team pushes, and the enemies holding that angle get disrupted. The healing mode drops an area-of-effect heal on the ground. It heals through walls, so you can place it behind cover and still restore health to teammates nearby.

M-Pulse is the reason Miks is the first Controller with healing. It gives him a genuine argument over Brimstone or Omen in team compositions that lack a dedicated healer. The healing is not as strong as Sage’s, but it fills a gap when your team does not want to run a Sentinel.

Waveform (E) [Signature ability]

Equip a map targeter and fire to set smoke locations. Alt-fire to deploy the smokes at those positions. On console, the input order is reversed.

The targeting interface works like Brimstone’s smoke pad. You mark the spots on a top-down map, confirm, and the smokes appear. Miks gets two smoke charges. The smokes are hollow inside, last 16 seconds, and have a 40-second cooldown between uses.

The biggest difference from Brimstone: Miks’ smokes deploy instantly. There is no travel time or delay. This makes them stronger for fast site executes where you need vision blocked the exact moment your team pushes in. The trade-off is that the duration is shorter than Brimstone’s smokes.

On defense, play from the center of the map so you can smoke either site on demand. On attack, deploy smokes just as your team is about to enter to block angles at the last possible second.

Bassquake (X) [Ultimate, 8 points]

Equip Bassquake, charge it up, and release a massive wave of sonic energy forward. Enemies caught in the blast get knocked back, deafened for 8 seconds, and slowed.

Bassquake is similar to Breach’s Rolling Thunder in function, but the area is smaller. You need to aim it precisely to catch multiple enemies. It works best when you know where the enemy team is stacked. Do not throw it blindly into a site.

Best uses for Bassquake: blast defenders off anchor positions before a site execute, knock attackers off post-plant angles during a retake, or disrupt a tight group holding a choke.

The 1.6 second windup means enemies can hear it coming. Use it in combination with your smokes to cut off escape routes before the wave hits.

Best combos and tips for Miks

Site execute combo: Place Waveform smokes to block key sightlines. Throw M-Pulse in concuss mode into the site. Apply Harmonize to your entry fragger. Push together. The concussed defenders cannot fight back effectively while your stimmed entry clears the site.

Post-plant defense: After planting the spike, switch M-Pulse to healing mode and drop it near the team. Place smokes on common retake paths. If the enemy pushes through, use Bassquake to knock them off the spike.

Retake combo: If retaking a site, use Bassquake to force attackers off post-plant positions. Follow up with a concuss M-Pulse into the exposed area. Push with Harmonize active on your strongest teammate.

Healing rotation on defense: On defense, stay near the center of the map. When a teammate takes damage during an early fight, throw a healing M-Pulse their way. This lets your team hold without burning a full rotation or waiting for Sage.

Hollow smoke trick: Miks’ smokes are hollow inside. Your team can stand inside the smoke with full visibility while enemies outside cannot see in. Use this for surprise plays or to hold unusual angles during a push.

Best maps for Miks

Miks works best on maps where teams rely on coordinated site executes and strong post-plant setups. Ascent and Haven are strong picks because of their defined choke points and multiple entry paths that benefit from instant smokes and area denial.

Maps that require long-range smoke placement also favor Miks, since his Waveform allows him to cover sightlines from a safe distance. On wider maps like Breeze, consider running him alongside a second Controller for full coverage.

His kit loses some value on maps where solo plays and individual aggression matter more than team coordination. In those situations, Omen or Clove may offer more self-sufficient tools.

Miks voice actor and lore

Miks is voiced by Jan Kovacic. His real name in the Valorant lore is Jan Kovacic as well. He is a Radiant from Croatia whose powers are based on raw sonic energy.

His character design is heavily musical. He wears wave patterns on his suit, festival-style wristbands, and his shirt collar features a monster face inspired by Croatian folklore. According to Riot’s cosplay reference guide, the design reflects his roots in the underground EDM scene.

The reveal trailer features a remix of Zedd’s “Clarity” called Clarity (Valorant x BUNT. Remix), produced by DJ BUNT. Riot said they designed Miks’ ability sounds by first creating music tracks, then extracting elements to build the sound effects.

Miks joins the Valorant Protocol to help share the healing burden carried by Sage. His voicemail to Brimstone reveals that he volunteered for missions after seeing how much strain Sage was under as the team’s sole healer.

How to counter Miks

Do not group up when he has Bassquake available. The knockback and slow will hit your entire team if you are stacked in a tight area.

Listen for the Harmonize sound cue. When you hear it, the stimmed player will have increased fire rate. Avoid taking direct duels with them and wait for the buff to expire.

Use suppression abilities like KAY/O’s knife to shut down Miks’ utility entirely during a push. This disables his healing, concuss, and stim.

Spam bullets through his hollow smokes. Unlike regular smokes where both sides are blind, players can hide inside Miks’ smokes with full visibility. Prefiring common spots inside the smoke catches players who think they are safe.

Secure kills quickly before he heals his teammates with M-Pulse. The area heal through walls means you cannot always prevent it, but fast trades reduce its value.

Frequently asked questions

What role is Miks in Valorant?

Miks is a Controller. He is the seventh Controller and the 30th overall agent in Valorant.

Can Miks heal teammates?

Yes. Miks is the first Controller in Valorant with the ability to heal allies. His M-Pulse ability toggles between a concuss mode and a healing mode.

When did Miks release?

Miks launched on March 18, 2026, alongside Valorant Season 2026 Act 2, Patch 12.05.

Who is the voice actor for Miks?

Jan Kovacic voices Miks in the English version of Valorant.

How do Miks’ smokes compare to Brimstone’s?

Both use a map-targeting interface. The main difference is speed. Miks’ Waveform smokes deploy instantly, while Brimstone’s have a short delay. Brimstone’s smokes last longer, but Miks’ are better for fast executes.

Is Miks good in solo queue?

He works, but his kit is designed around team coordination. Harmonize loses value without a reliable partner, and M-Pulse healing requires teammates who play around you. In organized play or with a duo, his value goes up significantly.

s1mple will miss IEM Cologne Major after BC.Game withdraws from last qualifying LAN

Yash More
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s1mple will miss IEM Cologne Major after BC.Game withdraws from last qualifying LAN

s1mple is not going to the first CS2 Major of 2026. His team BC.Game pulled out of ROG JOURNEY Spring, the last LAN event before the IEM Cologne Major invite deadline on April 6. With the team ranked 41st in the Valve Rating System, the withdrawal eliminates any remaining path to qualification.

A representative from BC.Game told HLTV: “We’ve decided to withdraw from JOURNEY. Me and the players know that our current results are not good enough. We’ve been strong in practice, but we haven’t delivered in officials, and we’ve lost games we shouldn’t be losing.”

That quote says more about this roster than any stat line could.

How did it get to this point?

BC.Game acquired the core of SAW at the start of 2026 for a reported $2.5 million, according to journalist OverDrive. SAW was ranked 22nd in the VRS at the time and already held a spot at IEM Krakow. The signing brought s1mple back to a tier-one LAN for the first time since his stand-in stint with FaZe at the BLAST.tv Austin Major.

Krakow went okay. BC.Game made it through Stage 1 but got eliminated in Stage 2 after losses to Vitality and FaZe. Not a disaster for a new roster. The problem is that Krakow turned out to be the high point.

After that, the results fell apart. Last place at the IEM Rio Europe Closed Qualifier. Losses to ECSTATIC and illwill at the Parken Challenger Championship. A group stage exit at the Imperium Cup that dropped them to 42nd in the VRS. An analyst named Finn ran 115 million match simulations before the withdrawal and gave them a 34% chance of making Cologne. That number is now zero.

BC.Game still have two big LANs on their schedule: PGL Bucharest in April and IEM Atlanta in May. Both take place after the Major invite deadline, so neither helps their Cologne case. They got invited to Bucharest because several top teams skipped the event.

s1mple has played more Dota 2 than CS2 on FACEIT in 2026

Here is the detail that will get the community talking. Since January 2, 2026, s1mple has played over 37 Dota 2 matches on his Dotabuff profile. During the same period, he logged only 30 CS2 matches on FACEIT.

This is not new behavior. In September 2025, he played 123 Dota 2 matches in a single month, three times more than his FACEIT games. His favorite heroes include Ursa, Juggernaut, Spectre, and Phantom Assassin as a core player, with Windranger as a support. His Dota 2 win rate in 2026 sits at 46%. His all time most played hero is Pudge, with 135 games at a 54% win rate.

In December 2025, s1mple said on stream: “I don’t want to play Dota as much as I used to. I need to get back in shape in CS2.” Three months later, the FACEIT numbers suggest that did not happen.

To be fair, the raw numbers do not tell the full story. s1mple also plays official matches, team scrims, and private practice sessions that do not show up on FACEIT or Dotabuff. He played 14 FACEIT matches in a five-day stretch from March 13 to 17 alone. But the optics are rough. When your team is 41st in the VRS and you have more Dota 2 games than CS2 pugs on your public profile, people will draw conclusions.

Is s1mple’s CS career winding down?

This is the question the community keeps circling back to.

s1mple is widely considered the greatest CS:GO player of all time. Three HLTV Player of the Year awards (2018, 2021, 2022). Twenty-one HLTV MVP medals. A Major win with NAVI at PGL Stockholm 2021. An Intel Grand Slam trophy. The graffiti on Cache. The documentary. The legend.

But the CS2 era has been different. He benched himself on NAVI in October 2023, citing personal reasons and dissatisfaction with early CS2. Two loan stints with Team Falcons produced nothing notable. A brief stand-in run with FaZe showed flashes of the old s1mple. Then came BC.Game, a $2.5 million project that has produced one decent LAN showing and a string of lower-tier exits.

Casters and analysts are not holding back. In a recent segment, multiple figures including FalleN and torzsi said they do not expect s1mple to make the HLTV Top 20 in 2026. Another commentator put it bluntly: “I don’t think s1mple has that passion anymore.”

Reports suggest s1mple’s salary at BC.Game is around $120,000 per month. For context, ZywOo reportedly earns around $100,000 monthly at Vitality. The salary is not the issue. The results are.

What comes next for BC.Game?

The org’s unnamed representative framed the JOURNEY withdrawal as a reset. “Our full focus now is to fix our chemistry.” PGL Bucharest and IEM Atlanta are the next opportunities to prove the roster can function at a higher level.

Whether s1mple is still on the team for those events, and whether BC.Game itself remains committed to this project after burning through a $2.5 million buy-in with almost nothing to show for it, are the real questions heading into the second half of the year.

For now, the Cologne Major will happen without s1mple. The Cathedral of Counter-Strike returns for the first time in a decade, and the player many still call the GOAT will not be there. That sentence, even typed out, feels wrong. But here we are.

Frequently asked questions

Will s1mple play at IEM Cologne Major 2026?

No. BC.Game withdrew from the last qualifying event before the invite deadline. The team is ranked 41st in the VRS and has no remaining path to qualification.

Why did BC.Game withdraw from ROG JOURNEY?

The organization said results have not matched their practice performance and they want to focus on fixing team chemistry before their next events.

Has s1mple been playing Dota 2 instead of CS2?

Since January 2026, s1mple has logged more Dota 2 matches (37+) than CS2 FACEIT games (30) according to Dotabuff and FACEIT data. He also participates in official matches and team scrims not visible on those platforms.

What is s1mple’s salary at BC.Game?

Reports indicate approximately $120,000 per month. For comparison, ZywOo at Vitality reportedly earns around $100,000 monthly.

When is s1mple’s next LAN event?

PGL Bucharest in April 2026, followed by IEM Atlanta in May 2026. Neither event contributes to IEM Cologne Major qualification.

When is the IEM Cologne Major 2026?

June 8 to 21, 2026. Invites will be issued on April 6 based on VRS rankings.

Bilibili Gaming win First Stand 2026, beat G2 Esports 3-1 in Sรฃo Paulo grand final

Yash More
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Bilibili Gaming win First Stand 2026, beat G2 Esports 3-1 in Sรฃo Paulo grand final

“Tomorrow, I’ll prove I’m the number one top laner in the world.”

That was Bin on Weibo the night before the First Stand 2026 grand final. Twelve hours later, he was holding the trophy and the Finals MVP award after Bilibili Gaming dismantled G2 Esports 3-1 in Sรฃo Paulo, Brazil.

BLG have been the bridesmaid of international League of Legends for years. Second at MSI 2023. Second at MSI 2024. Second at Worlds 2024. Three consecutive runner-up finishes. That streak ended on March 22, 2026. This is their first international title.

If you do not follow LoL esports closely, here is why this matters: G2 Esports, the biggest name in European League of Legends, made their first international final in over six years. They got there by obliterating the best Korean team in the world. And they still could not beat BLG. The gap between the LPL and everyone else right now is real.

G2 won Game 1, and it looked like they had a chance

The opener was a proper fight. Both junglers set the pace. Objectives went back and forth. Neither team could pull away for nearly 40 minutes.

Then came the Baron fight. G2, somehow outnumbered, executed the teamfight perfectly. They aced BLG. Zero deaths. Caps on Aurora was untouchable, and Bin’s Gnar, which had gone 8-0 across nine games this season, finally lost.

For about an hour, European fans allowed themselves to believe.

BLG won the next three and it was not close

Game 2 started even, but BLG found a collapse in the top side jungle and never looked back. Gwen snowballed. The BLG bot lane crushed the 2v2. G2 stretched it to 39 minutes with desperate individual picks, but the gold lead was too wide. 28-12 in kills.

Game 3 was over in draft. BLG had three winning lanes and Xin Zhao into two ranged carries. G2 had no win condition. It was a stomp from minute one.

Game 4 went fast. Under 30 minutes. G2 actually had the better start, picking up early kills and looking aggressive. Then BLG stole the Baron. One play. That was it. BLG marched down mid off the stolen Baron buff and ended the series.

The G2 lower bracket run deserves its own article

Forget the final result for a moment. What G2 did to get there was extraordinary.

They lost to BLG 3-0 in the group stage. Completely outclassed. Most analysts figured they were done. They dropped to the lower bracket, beat FearX 3-0, and then walked into the semifinal against Gen.G, the LCK’s first seed and one of the most consistent Korean rosters in years.

G2 swept them. 3-0. Gen.G had lost only five individual games all year. Three of those five came in a single series against G2. Gen.G did not take a single tier 2 turret across three maps.

That was the first time an LEC team beat an LCK team in a best-of-five since Worlds 2020. The team that did it in 2020? Also G2. Also against Gen.G. Some rivalries run deep.

This was G2’s first international final in 2,323 days. Their last one was Worlds 2019, a 0-3 loss to FunPlus Phoenix. They have now lost a final in all three major international LoL competitions: Worlds, MSI, and First Stand. That is a record nobody wants.

After the loss, G2’s coach Romain Bigeard was honest about the gap. Speaking on OTP’s broadcast, he said BLG played “more aggressively, more explosively” and that draft was the deciding factor. He called it much harder than the Gen.G series. Then he said what most people watching already knew: “Bilibili Gaming is the best team in the world.”

Bin delivered, and Viper made history

Bin backed up his Weibo post. His performances in teamfights throughout the knockout stage and grand final earned him the FMVP. The top laner has always been mechanically gifted, but the knock on him was consistency at the international level. He answered that question in Sรฃo Paulo.

Viper, BLG’s bot laner, became the first player to win First Stand twice. He won the inaugural event in 2025 with Hanwha Life Esports before joining BLG for the 2026 season. Two different teams, two trophies. Only a handful of players in League history can claim that kind of consistency across organizations.

Viewership and what this means going forward

The grand final peaked at over 1.5 million concurrent viewers, according to Esports Charts. That narrowly beat the G2 vs Gen.G semifinal, which pulled 1.46 million. Both numbers are strong for a tournament in its second year.

BLG’s win gives the LPL its first international title in three years. It also has a structural impact on MSI 2026: the LPL’s second seed now receives a direct bye to the bracket stage, skipping the earlier rounds. That is a real competitive advantage earned through First Stand performance.

The prize split was $250,000 for BLG and $150,000 for G2.

For G2, the second-place finish is still the LEC’s best international result in years. The run through the lower bracket, the Gen.G sweep, the return to a final after 2,323 days. That is not failure. But it is not the trophy, either. And the next international test comes at MSI 2026, where the competition only gets harder.

Frequently asked questions

Who won First Stand 2026?

Bilibili Gaming won First Stand 2026, defeating G2 Esports 3-1 in the grand final in Sรฃo Paulo, Brazil, on March 22, 2026.

Who was the Finals MVP?

Bin (Chen Ze-Bin), BLG’s top laner. He posted on Weibo the night before the final that he would prove he was the best top laner in the world.

Is Viper the first two-time First Stand champion?

Yes. Park Do-hyeon won First Stand 2025 with Hanwha Life Esports and First Stand 2026 with BLG. No other player has won the event twice.

When was G2’s last international final?

Worlds 2019, a 0-3 loss to FunPlus Phoenix. That was 2,323 days before the First Stand 2026 grand final.

How many viewers did the First Stand 2026 final get?

Over 1.5 million peak concurrent viewers, slightly higher than the G2 vs Gen.G semifinal at 1.46 million.

What does BLG’s win mean for MSI 2026?

The LPL’s second seed gets a direct bye to the MSI 2026 bracket stage, a structural advantage earned by BLG’s First Stand victory.

Valorant error code VAN 84: What it means and how to fix it

Satyam Kumar
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Valorant error code VAN 84: What it means and how to fix it

The VAN 84 error in Valorant has been appearing more frequently since the Act 2 patch. It blocks players from launching the game, joining matches, or staying connected to ongoing games. If you are seeing this error, you are not alone. Reports spiked across Reddit, Discord, and VLR.gg in March 2026.

VAN 84 is a connection error tied to Riot Vanguard. It means your client cannot establish a secure connection with Riot’s authentication servers. The good news: most causes have straightforward fixes. The bad news: sometimes the problem is on Riot’s end, and all you can do is wait.

Here is how to identify the cause and get back into the game.

What causes the VAN 84 error in Valorant?

VAN 84 falls under Valorant’s VAN error category, which covers problems related to Vanguard and the Riot Client. It is different from VAL errors, which deal with in-game server issues.

The error triggers when the Vanguard service (vgc) fails to start or loses connection, when your firewall or antivirus blocks Vanguard’s communication with Riot’s servers, when DNS records are outdated or corrupted, when Riot’s own servers are down or under maintenance, or when IPv6 routing conflicts with Riot’s network.

Players hit by this error after the Act 2 patch have reported being disconnected mid-match and then being unable to rejoin, which can result in AFK penalties and rank loss.

Check Riot’s server status first

Before you start changing settings on your PC, check whether the problem is on Riot’s side. If their servers are down, no amount of local troubleshooting will help.

Go to the Riot Games Service Status page and select your region. If there is an active incident or scheduled maintenance listed, the VAN 84 error is temporary and will resolve once Riot restores service.

You can also check Downdetector for Valorant to see if other players in your region are reporting the same issue. If thousands of reports are coming in at the same time, it is a server problem.

Fix 1: Restart your PC and network equipment

This fixes temporary network glitches and clears the Vanguard cache.

  1. Turn off your PC completely.
  2. Unplug your router and modem from power.
  3. Wait 30 seconds.
  4. Plug the modem back in first, wait for it to fully boot.
  5. Plug the router back in and wait for it to connect.
  6. Turn your PC on and launch Valorant.

Simple, but it resolves VAN 84 more often than you would expect.

Fix 2: Restart the Vanguard service (vgc)

The vgc service is what authorizes Valorant to connect with Riot’s servers. If it stops running or is set to manual startup, your game cannot authenticate.

  1. Press Windows Key + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
  2. Scroll down and find vgc in the list.
  3. Right click it and select Properties.
  4. Set Startup type to Automatic.
  5. Click Apply, then click Start.
  6. Close the window and launch Valorant.

If vgc was stopped or set to Manual, switching it to Automatic and starting it should fix the error immediately.

Fix 3: Flush DNS and switch to Google or Cloudflare DNS

Valorant depends on accurate DNS resolution to reach Riot’s authentication servers. If cached DNS entries are outdated or corrupted, the client may try to connect to invalid routes.

Open Command Prompt as administrator and run these commands one at a time:

ipconfig /flushdns ipconfig /release ipconfig /renew netsh winsock reset netsh int ip reset

Restart your PC after running all five.

To switch your DNS servers to a faster, more reliable option:

  1. Open Control Panel, go to Network and Internet, then Network and Sharing Center, then Change Adapter Settings.
  2. Right click your active connection and select Properties.
  3. Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and click Properties.
  4. Choose “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
  5. Set Preferred to 8.8.8.8 and Alternate to 8.8.4.4 (Google DNS). Or use 1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1 (Cloudflare DNS).
  6. Click OK, close everything, and restart Valorant.

Fix 4: Disable IPv6

IPv6 can conflict with Riot’s network routing, particularly when your ISP or router does not fully support dual-stack networking. This can break the authentication handshake between Vanguard and Riot’s servers.

  1. Open Control Panel, go to Network and Sharing Center, then Change Adapter Settings.
  2. Right click your active connection and select Properties.
  3. Uncheck Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6).
  4. Click OK and restart your PC.

Disabling IPv6 may affect other network services on your system. If VAN 84 is fixed but something else breaks, re-enable it and try the other fixes instead.

Fix 5: Add Valorant and Vanguard to your firewall whitelist

If Windows Firewall or a third party antivirus is blocking Vanguard’s network traffic, the game cannot communicate with Riot’s servers.

  1. In the Windows search bar, type “Allow an app through Windows Firewall” and open it.
  2. Click Change Settings.
  3. Click Allow another app, then Browse.
  4. Navigate to C:\Riot Games\VALORANT\live, select VALORANT.exe, and click Add.
  5. Do the same for Vanguard. Its files are in C:\Program Files\Riot Vanguard.
  6. Make sure both Private and Public checkboxes are enabled for each entry.
  7. Click OK.

If you use a third party antivirus like Bitdefender, Avast, or Comodo, temporarily disable their network filtering and test whether VAN 84 goes away. If it does, add Valorant and Vanguard to that program’s exception list permanently.

Fix 6: Close Killer Prioritization Engine and similar network tools

Intel’s Killer Control Center and similar network optimization software can interfere with Riot’s packet routing. Since Valorant requires constant communication between Vanguard and the servers, any tool that reprioritizes or throttles packets may trigger VAN 84.

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), look for Killer Prioritization Engine or similar processes, right click them, and select End Task. Then relaunch Valorant.

If this fixes the error, consider uninstalling the Killer suite entirely or disabling it from startup.

Fix 7: Try a different server region

VAN 84 is sometimes region-locked. If the problem only affects your region’s servers, connecting to a different one can get you past the error.

If you can get into the Riot Client but matchmaking fails, change your server from the settings. If you cannot log in at all and you have a second account on a different region, try logging in with that account to confirm whether it is a regional issue.

Fix 8: Perform a network reset

If nothing else has worked, resetting your network stack rebuilds Windows’ TCP/IP configuration from scratch.

  1. Open Settings, go to Network and Internet, then Advanced Network Settings.
  2. Click Network Reset, then Reset Now.
  3. Restart your PC.

This removes all network adapters and reinstalls them with default settings. You will need to re-enter any saved Wi-Fi passwords after the reset.

Fix 9: Reinstall Valorant and Vanguard

If no network or service fix resolves the error, corrupted installation files may be the cause.

  1. Open Settings, go to Apps, and uninstall both Valorant and Riot Vanguard.
  2. Restart your PC.
  3. Download a fresh Valorant installer from the official Valorant website.
  4. Install the game and let Vanguard install automatically.
  5. Restart your PC one more time before launching.

This eliminates corrupted files and registry entries that may be blocking authentication.

When nothing works: submit a ticket to Riot

If you have tried every fix and VAN 84 persists, the problem may require Riot’s direct attention.

  1. Go to the Riot Support website.
  2. Click Submit a Ticket.
  3. Select Riot Vanguard Issue or VAN Error Message from the dropdown.
  4. Describe the error in the subject and description fields.
  5. Attach a screenshot of the error.
  6. Click Submit.

Document which fixes you already tried. This helps the support team skip basic troubleshooting and escalate your case faster.

Frequently asked questions

What is VAN 84 in Valorant?

VAN 84 is a connection error that occurs when your Valorant client cannot establish a secure connection with Riot’s servers through Vanguard. It can prevent you from logging in, joining matches, or staying connected during games.

Is VAN 84 a server issue or a PC issue?

It can be either. VAN 84 frequently appears during Riot server outages or maintenance. But it can also be caused by local issues like a stopped Vanguard service, firewall blocks, or corrupted DNS. Always check Riot’s server status first.

Why did VAN 84 start appearing after the Act 2 patch?

The Act 2 patch introduced server-side changes that increased the frequency of VAN 84 reports. Some players experienced the error due to temporary server instability after the patch. Others had existing configuration issues that the update exposed.

Does VAN 84 cause AFK penalties?

Yes. If VAN 84 disconnects you during a match and you cannot rejoin in time, the game may mark you as AFK. This can result in queue restrictions and rank point losses.

Can a VPN fix VAN 84?

In some cases, a VPN can bypass routing issues between your ISP and Riot’s servers. However, Vanguard may flag certain VPN services. If you try a VPN, use one that is known to work with Valorant and test in an unranked match first.

Do I need to enable Secure Boot or TPM for VAN 84?

No. VAN 84 is a connection error, not a security configuration error. Secure Boot and TPM issues produce different error codes like VAN 9001 or VAN 9003. If you are seeing those instead, check our UEFI Secure Boot Valorant guide.

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